Super Sentai's FIVE YEAR CEREMONIAL FINALE

Super Sentai is practically Toei's LONGEST-running show, ending its broadcast yesterday. Yes, the No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger finale happened. It happened after Super Sentai had a series of "reboots", not relying on Nostalgia Goggles (which sadly happened with Power Rangers more often than not), and every step of the way was to keep the series fresher than usual. Of course, there would be a LIMIT to how long creative thinking goes. Innovation keeps a product living longer. It made me think of how Super Sentai managed to go on from the 2000s and the 2010s, but FAILED to complete the cycle in the 2020s as we're having Gavan Infinity instead.

I remember asking myself, "How long CAN Super Sentai last in the 2010s? Perhaps until 40?" It was because we've had significant milestones. I felt that its 30th anniversary Gougou Sentai Boukenger was more of an Easter Egg hunt and acknowledgement. That would be five years after Hyajakku Sentai Gaoranger. There was no "reboot treatment" with Ninpuu Sentai Hurricanger and with Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger. However, it felt like Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger was really one huge finale. Who could deny that Gokaiger was almost a giant reunion? The "reboot" happened with Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters. Doubutsu Sentai Zyuohger (which had low ratings) came and we still got Uchu Sentai Kyuranger. Most of the shows were actually "staying afloat" by not giving too many Ranger History lessons. Any Ranger History lesson that happened up to that time was "invitations to watch an older show" instead of requiring people to watch the older show.

However, things started to be different during the 2020s. I already felt like that Kishinryu Sentai Ryusoulger was a desperate attempt -- why go back to dinosaurs so soon?! It was also in 2020 when the world was hit by the Legacy Virus. Super Sentai went past the 40th season and was about to enter the 45th season. Then I believe that we actually entered the FIVE-YEAR FINALE CYCLE.

The Legacy Virus Pandemic reality of 2021 to the slowly recovering world of 2022

I remember having the hype for Kikou Sentai Zenkaiger due to the more "unusual and unorthodox team" of one human and four robots set up. However, I ended up feeling the hype wasn't all that worth it. If there's anything I could say right now -- I actually enjoyed Kamen Rider Saber despite its ups and downs. Both series were produced during the pandemic world, and 2022 was the year when Avatar Sentai Donbrothers showed up. 

Zenkaiger had a very finale feel one way or another. Countless Super Sentai worlds found themselves contained by Tojitend. It was an exciting concept, IMHO but either I was too depressed during the Legacy Virus Pandemic or I just don't think Junko Komura is cut out with anniversaries. I was able to enjoy Kaito Sentai Lupinranger vs. Keisatsu Sentai Patranger for its interesting complex dynamic -- despite the fact the ending was kind of WTF. Back on track, Zenkaiger understandably had a finale feel. But something happened next by next year...

Toshiki Inoue returned to Super Sentai as a major writer AGAIN. I thought that Inoue should've been integrated as Go-Busters' secondary writer instead of Kento Shimoyama. Inoue may have been "cruel" to Gai Ikari BUT that cruelty would've done wonders for Go-Busters IMHO. Donbrothers sets itself as a totally different world from Zenkaiger because Donbrothers Kaito isn't the Zenkaiger Kaito. However, the Ranger History Lessons were still there as Easter Eggs. One can ask if several post-anniversary seasons, like those from the 2000s-2010s, like Hurricanger and Gekiranger, actually had Ranger History Lessons. The answer is there was NONE except for Kyuranger, which had a VERY SOFT one. Hurricanger perfectly ignored Gaoranger within the series context. Gekiranger never raised up any previous series like Gosei Sentai Dairanger or Hikari Sentai Maskman -- even if there were subtle nods such as the use of "Aura Power". That always made me think that Inoue should've been involved in Hurricanger and Gekiranger as a second writer -- all before taking a nice long break or screw up due to burnout. 

Both shows had their own merits. I preferred Donbrothers' characterizations over Zenkaiger's characterizations. Sure, it lacks the grit Inoue placed into older shows like Kamen Rider Agito or the highly divisive Kamen Rider Faiz (especially how executives may have forced Yasuko Kobayashi to write a reset button ending for Kamen Rider Ryuki) and how he was forced to write a rather fluffy show with Kamen Rider Kiva. IMHO, Kiva is still far better than Kamen Rider Ghost in terms of writing. Kiva was practically true to a dramatic heart -- just that Inoue was overworked and you know, overworked people SCREW UP HARD! 

Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger felt like the red carpet for a graceful exit?

Unlike Kamen Rider Saber, King-Ohger was already operating in a post-pandemic world. Super Sentai got overly ambitious in 2023. It felt like a celebratory show if you give meaning to 2023. The numbers were practically adding up. 30 years since Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers allowed Toei to enter the American market. The show's Toys R Us cameo of Geoffrey the Giraffe was probably a nod to the establishment's involvement in Toei's marketing success. However, success in the past doesn't always equate to success forever. King-Ohger felt like a huge breath of fresh air. However, there was still that "nagging" Ranger History Lesson stuck with it. Sure, it's not as overwhelming as what Power Rangers Beast Morphers did, but it seemed to "fit in" given Power Rangers' 30th birthday. IMHO, this could've been the best year to end Super Sentai but Toei probably wanted a "perfect number".

There were many ways to acknowledge Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger's 10 years after. However, the show decided to go with the soft continuity approach. Sure, it doesn't force the seven-year-olds from 2023 to watch Kyoryuger to understand it. However, I felt the alternate universe argument could've still worked. But why did Toei decide to put King-Ohger in the SAME CONTINUITY as Kyoryuger? It feels like tht this was another step to "cleaning up the house". I wouldn't be surprised if Kyoryuger props were in a clearance sale that year. 

Thankfully, King-Ohger had a finale in mind when it was written. It didn't end up the problem of several American shows that were canceled too soon without a proper end. Instead, it managed to fix what Mystic Knights of Tir Na Nog couldn't. However, the way things played like DugDEAD Dujardin annihilating life to its really crowded finale with what could be the biggest stage role call -- it made me cross my fingers Super Sentai was on the finale road. 

Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger was "back to basics," but it felt like the show was like a yearlong intermission number

Boonboomger went back to Japan. I thought it was just going to be, "Well, let's just sit down and enjoy the show." However, the Ranger History Lessons kicked in AGAIN. Yes, everything went back as early as episode 12 with Sosuke's guest role from Engine Sentai Go-Onger -- a show I ended up disliking after seeing Gekisou Sentai Carranger. It also had a Ranger History Lesson with Ressha Sentai ToQGer -- which is kind of understandable given the 10 year anniversary. Towards the finale, Joe Gibken from Gokaiger entered all before Shashiro's overly predictable fake betrayal.

Why did Toei go into THAT direction? I always felt that the Ranger History Lessons were where cues of Super Sentai going on hiatus. Well, that announcement was loudly made with...

Gozyuger was a huge farewell party to celebrate half a century, rather than the 50th entry

Was this premature celebration done on purpose? The Superhero Festival in Japan felt like a big farewell party for the Super Sentai franchise. Gozyuger's finale was well kinda meh for me, actually. However, the ring battle is still continuing and the Universe Warriors made some kind of role call. Some people feel like blaming the tabloid Shunkan Bushun over what happened with Maya Imamori somewhat late into the show. Talk about running what could be Toei's "longest garabe sale ever" and I bet the costumes above are now getting auctioned... OR NOT! Regardless, Gozyuger was already a finale vibe!

The beginning scene shows Tega Sword (a pun on Megazord) on top of the giant Megazord. Toei probably chose to celebrate Goranger's 50th anniversary to acknowledge the real long history or not. King-Ohger happened during Mighty Morphin's 30th anniversary. IMHO, I always felt that King-Ohger was the way to go. However, putting all the Megazords in one place in a graveyard was probably a message: "Megazords aren't as feasible as they used to be." The days when long lines happened just to get the Megazord had fizzled out over time. The show became a huge Battle Royale of sorts, which almost reminds me of a CLEARANCE SALE. I felt the whole series was meant to be a clearance sale to make way for Gavan Infinity or anything new Toei had at the works. 

Basically, Toei did these to give Super Sentai what may be that far from perfect yet somehow touching wrap-up. First, they celebrated the 45th season to prove that they were able to reach up to 45 entries for Super Sentai. Second, Donbrothers felt like some padding that would prepare people for the inevitable. Third, Toei were able to celebrate 30 years of Power Rangers since 1993-2023. Boonboomger was sort of the "easing stage". Gozyuger in 2025 was pretty much like, "Super Sentai is 50 years old!" -- hence the name Half Century Cafe. This would've been the symmetry that was achieved -- imperfect but able to carry out what Toei wanted to do!